I picked up the latest SI, which features the Red Sox’ 2017 starting outfield on the cover. And as I donned the protective suit to add this issue to my airtight vault of collectible Sox magazines, I found myself getting a bit nostalgic for the old days. The days when a Red Sox player on the cover of a national magazine sent my young fanboy heart through the roof.

Through the years, the Sox have graced the cover of Sports Illustrated a shit-ton of times, and I’m honestly too lazy to look it up. But on the occasion of this latest appearance, I felt compelled to go back through my collections and identify what I feel are the best of those covers. So here we go.

10. Jim Rice: I’m biased, because this was the first SI issue I ever owned. But I will always be impressed with how Dave Parker dwarfs 6’2, 200 pound Jim Ed. Looking forward to the next chapter in this long-time rivalry at Fenway Park on Opening Day.

9. The Rocket: Before there was Pedro, Roger Clemens was the guy who was making batters look foolish and getting us all hot and bothered for the possibility of a World Series title in Boston. This cover captures the full glory of his badassery.

8. Tony C. He was before my time, but this jarring cover photo remains a stark reminder of how everything can change in an instant, without warning — in life and sports.

7. Jonny Gomes: One word: iconic.

6. Pedro Martinez: I remember loving this cover so much, I bought the poster version. And coming into the 2000 season, even after the Red Sox were quickly vanquished in the 1999 ALCS, the optimism was infectious. Sadly, they didn’t even make the postseason. But my drinking was never stronger.

5. Carlton Fisk: As a kid, I had a copy of this one, too. And it gives a good glimpse into the classic Sox-Yankees dust-ups of the 70s, which usually featured Pudge sticking his cleats up someone’s ass.

4. Mark Bellhorn: Not just a great memento of the greatest Red Sox season ever, but also a fine tribute to the cult hero and casino legend of that team.

3. Ted Williams: Any list of top ten Red Sox SI covers without Teddy Ballgame is incomplete. So there.

2. Jonathan Papelbon: Say what you will about Papelbon, his hijinks were a big part of what made that 2007 season so memorable. All this cover is missing is a Bud Light box hat.

1. Curt Schilling: Still, without question, my favorite Red Sox SI cover ever. I have the poster in my home office. I have the poster in my office office. Someday I’m getting it tattooed on my back. Every beer, tear and scream from that season is encapsulated in that shot of Big Curt stomping off the mound. And I fucking love it.

Honorable Mention:

Bobby Valentine: It’s not exactly an era any Red Sox fan will look back on longingly, but this cover perfectly captures what we were all feeling — fans and players alike — as the Bobby V-led Sox circled the toilet in 2012.

]]>http://www.survivinggrady.com/2017/04/the-10-best-red-sox-sports-illustrated-covers-ever.html/feed0Red Sox Get Win Number 90. Now I Want 100.http://www.survivinggrady.com/2013/09/red-sox-get-win-number-90-now-want-100.html
http://www.survivinggrady.com/2013/09/red-sox-get-win-number-90-now-want-100.html#commentsSat, 14 Sep 2013 11:40:11 +0000http://www.survivinggrady.com/?p=14651Last night, the Red Sox won the first game of their final homestand for the 2013 regular season. It was their ninetieth win and, for ...

Last night, the Red Sox won the first game of their final homestand for the 2013 regular season. It was their ninetieth win and, for an added dose of sugar, it was against the Yankees.

After last year’s debacle, just seeing the Sox take the field for spring training without spontaneously combusting would have been a step up. But here we are with 90 wins, an 8.5 game lead in the East, and our first all-but-assured division win since 2007 (only our third since 1995).

It should be enough. In many ways, it is more than enough. But I want something even bigger.

I want this team to win 100 games.

It hasn’t been done since 1946, when the Sox went a staggering 104-50 (before losing a spirit-crushing World Series to the Cardinals). Since that time, they’ve come close; the 2004 team won 98 while 1978’s team — featuring NESN’s Jerry Remy, Jim Rice and Dennis Eckersley — won 99. In the entire history of the franchise, it’s only been done three times. And I want to see them do it again.

I’ll admit that it’s pure greed. This team has already proven itself to be a marked improvement over last year’s model and one of the best Red Sox teams in recent memory. They are tough, they have character, they’ve kept it exciting and they’re gonna bring us baseball in October. A lot of other teams don’t get that. And I realize this.

But as the Sox have gone through their amazing 21st century revival, my checklist of things I’d like to see the team do has expended from simply “not send me into a vodka- and depression-induced coma” to several no-hitters, actually beating the Yankees in a big post-season series, and achieving the most elusive prize of all by winning a World Series.

Now they have a chance to win 100 games. For only the fourth time in their history. As I noted, the last time they did it was 1946. And if you don’t think it would be fun to speak of Jonny Gomes and Mike Carp in the same sentence as Ted Williams and Bobby Doerr, then we can never, ever be drinking buddies.

It wouldn’t be an easy task. The Sox only have 13 games left, and they’d have to go 10-3 across a stretch that will put them up against the Yankees for 2 more and the pesky Orioles for 6. On paper, it’s pretty improbable.

But in many ways, this entire season has been improbable…at least so far. And with every game, every comeback, every “holy shit, did that just happen?” moment, this team is rewriting the rules. Why can’t they win 10 more and chalk up a 19-6 September? Why can’t we go from the worst team record in Red Sox history to one of the best? Why not them?

Stranger things have certainly happened. And things just keep getting stranger every day of this almost-too-awesome-to-believe season.

I like what I’ seeing so far.Speaking of seeing, if they had that, what do you call it…LASIK eye surgery back when I played, my own career would have been extended. Extended career means more home runs for Jim Ed. More home runs for Jim Ed means Jim Ed is in the Hall of Fame when Billy Clinton was in the White House. And Bill Clinton liked the ladies the same way Jim Ed does.

Another thing about that LASIK thing. I could have avoided the unfortunate incident where I touched Rod Stewart’s buttocks inappropriately thinking he was Angie Dickinson. Now that is someone who could slap the cuffs on Jim Ed anytime she wanted.

What was I talking about? Red Sox. Hitters gotta hit. Pitchers gotta pitch. That’s exactly what these boys are doing. And if Alfredo knows what’s good for him, he’ll pitch. Otherwise Jim Ed will be having a chat.